At last they passed into a hamlet with a church,
and a big vicarage among shrubberies; this was Windlow Malzoy, the
coachman said, and that was Mr. Sandys' house. Howard saw a girl
wandering about on the lawn--Jack's sister, he supposed, but it was
too far off for him to see her distinctly; five minutes later they
drove into Windlow. It lay at the very bottom of the valley; a
clear stream ran beneath the bridge. There were but half a dozen
cottages, and just ahead of them, abutting on the road, appeared
the front of a beautiful simple house of some considerable size,
with a large embowered garden behind it bordering on the river;
Howard was astonished to see what a large and ancient building it
was. The part on the road was blank of windows, with the exception
of a dignified projecting oriel; close to which was a high Tudor
archway, with big oak doors standing open. There were some plants
growing on the coping--snapdragon and valerian--which gave it a
look of age and settled use. The carriage drove in under the arch,
and a small courtyard appeared. There was a stable on the right,
with a leaded cupola; the house itself was very plain and stately,
with two great traceried windows which seemed to belong to a hall,
and a finely carved outstanding porch. The whole was built out of
the same orange stone of which the churches were built, stone-
tiled, all entirely homelike and solid.
He got down at the door, which stood open.
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